Machine for rolling tubes



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

PyM. TASKER.

MACHINE FOR ROLLING TUBES;

Patented Jan. 19, 1886.

lllmlllllllllllllllllll INVENTOR ,WITN ESSES UNITED Srnrnsfi PATENT Frrcn.

MACHINE FOR ROLLING TUBES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 334,548, dated January 19, 1886. Application filed October 6, 1883. Serial No. 179,112. (No model.)

tion of a machine adapted to reduce the thick.-

ness of the walls, and so to roll down and out 'metal tubes of large caliber, the organization of my machine being, for the above purposes, such that one of the reducing-rollsoperates' from within the tube, While both of the reducing-rolls, the axes of which are maintained in parallelism, operate at an angle other than a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the tube operated upon.

Apparatus embodying a good form of my improvements is represented in the accompanying drawings and described in this specification, the particular subject-matter claimed as novel being hereinafter definitely specified.

I11 the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of an apparatus conveniently embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a top sectional plan of the apparatus of Fig. 1, section 7 being supposed in the plane of the dotted line as a: of Fig. l, and sight being takenin the direction of the arrows upon said line. For clearer illustration, the cylinder is not represented as upon the lower roll. Fig. 3 isa fragmentary partly elevational and partly sectional detail showing a form of coupling which I find it convenient to employ for connecting the driving-shafts with the axles of the rolls. Fig. 4 is a transverse section through the center of the coupling represented in Fig. 3.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, Arepresents the bed-plate of the machine. j V

B is a forked frame-work erected from the bed-plate, and essentially composed of a vertical or standard portionwhichis designated by the letter B, and of two parallel arms or forks, of which the upper is designated b and the lower b7. Thelength of these arms may vary. The lower, in the form of apparatus represented, is so set as to clear the bed-plate and leave an interspace between it and said bed-plate.

G D are apair of rolls, of which the upper, O, is concave, and the lower, D, convex, spheroidal, or cask-shaped. The convexity andconcavity of the said pair of rolls being correspondent will cause the rolls to operate together.. The axes of the rolls are to be maintained in parallelism; but the machine is not operative for the purposes for which it is intended if the axes of the said pair of rolls are ever parallel with the axis of the tube to be reduced, or at right angles to said axis. In other words, the said two rolls, while always parallel as regards each other, are always to be maintained at an angle intermediate between the longitudinal axis of the tube and a horizontal line right-angular to said longitudinal axis and diametric of the tube. This angular adjustment of the two rolls, which, within the limits stated, may be varied, is necessary to cause the concave and convex surfaces of the respective rolls to bear upon both the internal and external surfaces of the tube, and to reduce the tube by imparting to it a spirally-progressive movement toward the standard portion B of the forked frame.

Each of the said two rolls is housed in a vertically-adjustable bridle, E, by means of bearings 6, connected therewith and incasing the axles or journals of the rolls. The bridle of the upper roll extends vertically upward, while that of the lower roll extends vertically downward. Each of the bridles is mounted for vertical movementin a rotatable housing, F, by means of tongues 0* upon the cheekpieces of the bridles,which engage in ways f formed in the housings. The basesf of the housings are conveniently disks to abut against, and are connected, respectively,with the upper and lower arms of the forked frame work, connection being conveniently effected by bolts G, which play through segmental slots'f formed in the bases of the housings, and which can be tightened up to maintain the bases and housings in given adjusted positions. Connection of the bridles with the housings and arms is furtherefiected, and the adjustment of saidbridles with respect to said housings rendered possible, by the application of adj usting-screws H, which thread through hearings in the arms of the frame-work, and are swiveled with respect to the bridles.

By the foregoing arrangement it will be IOO readily understood that not only can the two rolls be set at different distances apart, and in such manner adjusted with respect to the breadth of their bite or to suit the thickness of the metal or the diameter of the tube to be rolled, but thatthe two rolls can,within the range of adjustment already specified, be to gethercircun1ferentially adjusted-that is to say, adjusted at desired angles other than a right angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tube to be operated upon.

As a convenient means for actuating the rolls to a common reverse rotation, I provide the following drivinggear:

I is a pulley or band wheel mounted upon a pulley-shaft, t,suitabl v secured in the machine conveniently by being housed between the vertical or standard portion of the forked framework and a supplemental standard, 13, likewise erected from the bed-plate. The pulley-shattcarries a fixed toothed pinion, J, which, engages with a toothed spur-wheel, K, which is mounted upon the extremity of a shaft, D

C D" are res 1ectively an upper and a lower shaft, which are suitably boxed in the standard portion of the forked frame-work,which pro ject to the rear beyond said frame-work, and which are equipped with toothed pinions 0 d, which intermesh. These shafts, therefore, as will be readily understood, are driven in opposite directions through the instrumentality of the pulley or band wheel I, toothed pinion J, toothed spur-wheel K, and toothed pinionscd. These shafts are employed to drive the rolls in reverse directions, and this they are enabled to do by the provision of couplings L of any usual character, or, for instance, of such a character as is represented in Figs. 3 and 4, the said couplings being each simply a square or polygonal sleeve, into one end of which the free extremity otonc ofthe shaftsis introd need, while into the opposite end the prolonged extremity of the shaft or axle of one of the rolls is introduced, 'the respective extremities of the shafts and axles being made square or polygonal to fit within the coupling, and being provided with spherical or spheroidal surfaces, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, to facilitate the adjustment of the parts without occasioning disengagement or failure of bite. Instead, however, of the coupling represented, which is a convenient device to insure the rotation of the rolls, whatever be their position with regard to their range of circumterential adjustment, it is perfectly competent for me to employ other coupling or connecting devices for trans mitting the motion of a shaft rotating in one plane toashaft rotating in a planenot parallel therewith, many such devices being in common use. i

It is also obvious that other gearings than that described for occasioning the reverse rotation of the shafts and rolls may be resorted to.

Such being a description of a convenient construction of apparatus embodying my i11- vention, the method of its operation may be readily understood. The rollshaving been set at such an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tube to be rolled as to adapt their respective peripheral surfaces to closely embrace the tube or cylinder to be rolled, the cylinder is introduced between the outer ends of the rolls, it being. when introduced,in effect, suspended upon the lower roll. The rolls being then set in action, the cylinder is carried through them, and, by virtue of their angular disposition, performs a spiral motion,

being rolled both ci rcumferentially and spirally, and being thereby advanced through between the rolls until every portion of its surfaces has been subjected to the bite thereof.

The length of tube which my machine is [itted to act upon is determined by the length of the arms of the forked frame-work, which may of course be made of any desired length. After the tube has been passed between the rolls to the full extent of its inward travel, the rolls can be, if desired, set up closer together, the direction of their revolution be reversed, and the tube be thereby caused to travel backward between the rolls, performing in its return travel both a circumferential and a spirallyadvancing movement, which will again subject its entire surface to the action of the rolls. This operation may be repeated until the tube is sufficient-ly reduced and extended.

Any well-known means may be employed for supportingthe extremities of the cylinder during its travel through the rolls.

It is obvious that other means than those represented and described may be employed for supporting and adjusting the rolls, the essential part of my invention being the rolls proper, or the combination of a convex roll with a concave roll, when the said rolls are set with their shafts parallel, but are so adjusted with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tube to be rolled as to operate simultaneously both upon the interior and exterior of said tube, and cause the said tube to perform both a circumferentially-spiral and a progressive movement.

Vhcn tubes the walls of which are of considerable thickness are to be rolled, it is necessary that the outside or concave roll should rotate more rapidly than the inside or convex roll,to make up for the difference in the paths of the rollsthat is to say, the difference in the length of the external and internal circumference. This can readily be accomplished either by making the outside roll slightly larger than the inside or by varying the size of the pinions upon the shafts, the pinion upon the shaft of the outside roll being made proportionately smaller than the pinion on the shaft of the inside. It will also be obvious that two or more pairs of these rolls may be employed at the same time and in the same machine, arranged in a circumferential series, each set of which is a duplicate of its neighof which are maintained in parallelism, but

which rolls are together maintained at an angle not being a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the tube, and which are adapted,

respectively, to operate upon the interior and exterior of the tube, substantially at set forth.

2. In a machine for roll1ng tubes of large caliber, the combination of a convex and a concave roll the axes of which are maintained in parallelism, but which rolls are together maintained at'an angle not being a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the tube, and which are adapted,respectively, to operate upon the interior and exterior of the tube, a frame-work for containing the said rolls in a given adjusted position, and means for driving the rollsin reverse directions,substantially as set forth.

3. In a machine for rolling tubes of large caliber, the combination of a convex and a concave roll the axes of which are maintained in parallelism, but which rolls are together maintained at an angle not being a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the tube, and which are adapted, respectively, to operate upon the interior and exterior of the tube, a frame-work for containing the said rolls in a given adjusted position, means for driving the rolls in reverse directions,'and means for effectuating the angular adjustment of the rolls, substantially as set forth.

4. In a machine for rolling tubes of large caliber, the combination of a convex and a concave roll the axes of which are maintained in parallelism, but which rolls are together maintained at an angle not being a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the tube, and which are adapted, respectively, to operate upon the interior and exterior of the tube, a frame-work for containing the said rolls in a given adjusted position, means for driving the rolls in reverse directions, means for effectuating the angular adjustment of the rolls, and means for varying the distance between the rolls, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, in a rolling-mill, of a pair or set of rolls, one of which is convex and one concave, bridles for containing the rolls, means for adjusting the bridles nearer together or farther apart, housings for containing the said bridles and permitting their circumferential adjustment, means for sup porting the housings in such manner that a tube can be introduced between the rolls, and means for driving the rolls in reverse directions, substantially as set forth;

6. The combination,to form a rolling-mill, of the forked frame-work, the housings, the bridles, a concave and a convex roll forming a pair or set, shafts for driving the rolls,couplings for connecting the shafts with the axles of the rolls, and means for driving the said shafts in reverse directions, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, to form a rolling-mill, of the forked framework, the housings, the bridles, a concave anda convex roll forming a pair or set, shafts for driving the rolls, couplings for connecting the shafts with the axles of the rolls, means for driving the said shafts in reverse direction, means for adjusting the vertical set of the bridles, and means for adjusting the circumferential disposition of the housings, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name this 28th day of September, A. D. 1885.

STEPHEN P. M. TASKER.

In presence of J. BONSALL TAYLOR, WM. 0. STRAWBRIDGE. 

